Fashion design students aim for inclusion as they look to future

McKenzie models a creation of Rachael Hutchinson which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1904041510038320

Three years of study comes to fruition Saturday when graduating Fanshawe College fashion design students invite the public and the industry to get a look at their 2020 spring/summer collections and the future of fashion at the annual Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf school of aviation hangar.

“It’s just an amazing event for everyone and it’s also a little scary because it’s something we’ve been looking forward to for three years, so we’re kind of excited and kind of nervous,” said student Natalie Ley, who is handling the marketing for the show, organized entirely by students from several programs and presented by the Fanshawe College alumni association.

Each of the 15 graduating students will see three looks from their collections of day wear and evening wear worn by models on the runway. Two other garments also will be judged.

A significant change this year reflects the fashion industry’s evolution to be more inclusive with models of varying ages, race, gender and body types.

“The designers have been inspired to create collections that transform the fashion industry’s conventions around size, culture and other factors through the exploration of craft techniques and future technologies,” said Loren Carriere, professor and event co-ordinator in promotional materials.

Crafts includes the incorporation of hand sewing, beading, or embroidery while the use of future technologies would be the use of laser fabric cutters and 3-D printing.

The entire school year for graduating students is focused on the Unbound show. The students are tasked with identifying the coming trends in colour, fabric and clothing, designing their collections, visiting New York City’s fabric district to choose materials, then building their collections.

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Fanshawe Unbound fashion show

McKenzie models a creation of Rachael Hutchinson which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1904041510018319

McKenzie models a creation of Rachael Hutchinson which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

Nora models a creation of Natalie Ley which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1904041510068322

Nora models a creation of Natalie Ley which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1904041510078323

Sydney models a creation of Hanna Jaremizin which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network ORG XMIT: POS1904041510098324

Sydney models a creation of Hanna Jaremizin which will be featured in the Unbound Fashion Show at the Norton Wolf School of Aviation on April 13. Photo shot in London, Ont. on Thursday April 4, 2019. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia Network

The young designers hope to find work with manufacturers, wholesalers, design firms or work on establishing their own design businesses.

The program’s mentor, Canadian designer David Dixon, regularly reviews the students’ progress.

In promotional material, Dixon said the graduating class “and their collections are raising the bar and awareness within the fashion community.”

“The designers are not only diverse in their creativity and their approach to design, but they have also chosen to change up the runway and present a diversity of people that are inclusive, representative and beautiful,” said Dixon.

The designs include formal and casual wear with a wide range of looks.

Meanwhile, Ley’s collection is classic in lines and colours, yet provocative with multiple layers of fabric, the outer layers transparent and flowing.

Several other college programs assist with Unbound, including special events planning, theatre arts’ technical production, marketing management, photography, visual effects and editing for contemporary media, hair stylist, fashion marketing and management, broadcast television and film production, police foundations, music industry arts and radio broadcasting.

“Hopefully, people (the public and fashion industry experts) will see our collections and really appreciate them,” said Ley.

“Our whole three years we’ve been looking forward to this and our whole year has been focused on this one event. I think it will be an exciting, formal event.”

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